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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>James 3:11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/james/3-11.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/59_Jas_03_11.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="James 3:11 - Taming the Tongue" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad11.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/james/3-10.htm" title="James 3:10">◄</a> James 3:11 <a href="/james/3-12.htm" title="James 3:12">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/james/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/james/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/james/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/james/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/james/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/james/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Does the spring pour forth out of the same opening <i>both</i> fresh and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/james/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet <i>water</i> and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/james/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Does a spring send forth fresh <i>water</i> and bitter from the same opening?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/james/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Does a spring send out from the same opening <i>both</i> fresh and bitter <i>water?</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/james/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/james/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Does a fountain send out from the same opening <i>both</i> fresh and bitter <i>water?</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/james/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Does a fountain pour forth from the same opening fresh and bitter <i>water</i>?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/james/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Does a spring send out from the same opening <i>both</i> fresh and bitter <i>water?</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/james/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/james/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/james/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/james/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/james/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/james/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Do clean and polluted water flow out of the same spring?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/james/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />No spring of water pours out sweet water and bitter water from the same opening. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/james/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />A spring cannot pour both fresh and brackish water from the same opening, can it? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/james/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/james/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/james/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/james/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/james/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />In a fountain, are fresh water and bitter sent forth from the same opening?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/james/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/james/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />does the fountain out of the same opening pour forth the sweet and the bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/james/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Does the spring pour forth out of the same opening <i>both</i> fresh and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/james/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> doth the fountain out of the same opening pour forth the sweet and the bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/james/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Much less from the same aperture does a fountain bubble out sweet and bitter?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/james/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Doth a fountain send forth, out of the same hole, sweet and bitter water? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/james/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Does a fountain emit, out of the same opening, both sweet and bitter water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/james/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/james/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/james/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Can there spring forth from the same fountain, both sweet water and bitter water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/james/3.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Is it possible that from one spring, sweet and bitter waters go out?<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/james/3.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Does a fountain send forth from the same cavern sweet water and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/james/3.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />Whether does the fountain out of the same chink send forth sweet water and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/james/3.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Doth a fountain from the same aperture spout forth sweet water and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/james/3.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />does a fountain throw up salt water and fresh, by the same conveyance?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/james/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />In a fountain, are fresh water and bitter sent forth from the same opening?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/james/3.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />Does the fountain send forth, from the same opening, the sweet <i>water</i> and the bitter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/james/3.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />Does a fountain from the same opening send forth sweet <i>water</i> and bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/james/3-11.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0xUBCzqsAGw?start=569" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/james/3.htm">Taming the Tongue</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">10</span>Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! <span class="reftext">11</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/3385.htm" title="3385: mēti (IntPrtcl) -- If not, unless, whether at all. From me and the neuter of tis; whether at all.">Can</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1099.htm" title="1099: glyky (Adj-ANS) -- Sweet. Of uncertain affinity; sweet.">both fresh water</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4089.htm" title="4089: pikron (Adj-ANS) -- Bitter, acrid, malignant. Perhaps from pegnumi; sharp, i.e. Acrid.">salt water</a> <a href="/greek/1032.htm" title="1032: bryei (V-PIA-3S) -- To cause to gush forth, send forth. A primary verb; to swell out, i.e. to gush.">flow</a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: ek (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.">from</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autēs (PPro-GF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">same</a> <a href="/greek/3692.htm" title="3692: opēs (N-GFS) -- A crevice (in a rock), a cave, an opening, hole. Probably from optanomai; a hole, i.e. Cavern; by analogy, a spring."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4077.htm" title="4077: pēgē (N-NFS) -- A fountain, spring, well, issue, flow. Probably from pegnumi; a fount, i.e. Source or supply.">spring?</a> </span> <span class="reftext">12</span>My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-16.htm">Matthew 7:16-20</a></span><br />By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-43.htm">Luke 6:43-45</a></span><br />No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. / For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles. / The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/18-21.htm">Proverbs 18:21</a></span><br />Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/10-11.htm">Proverbs 10:11</a></span><br />The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-33.htm">Matthew 12:33-37</a></span><br />Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit. / You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/13-2.htm">Proverbs 13:2-3</a></span><br />From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence. / He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/4-23.htm">Proverbs 4:23</a></span><br />Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22-23</a></span><br />But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, / gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-29.htm">Ephesians 4:29</a></span><br />Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-8.htm">Colossians 3:8-10</a></span><br />But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. / Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, / and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-10.htm">1 Peter 3:10</a></span><br />For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/34-13.htm">Psalm 34:13</a></span><br />Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/141-3.htm">Psalm 141:3</a></span><br />Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/15-4.htm">Proverbs 15:4</a></span><br />A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/12-18.htm">Proverbs 12:18</a></span><br />Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?</p><p class="hdg">place.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11</a></b></br> Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet <i>water</i> and bitter?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hebrews/12-15.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/1-5.htm">Flow</a> <a href="/james/3-10.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/john/4-14.htm">Fountain</a> <a href="/luke/5-39.htm">Fresh</a> <a href="/titus/1-8.htm">Opening</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-30.htm">Outlet</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/9-14.htm">Pour</a> <a href="/colossians/4-6.htm">Salt</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-15.htm">Spring</a> <a href="/philippians/4-18.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/hebrews/11-29.htm">Water</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/james/3-14.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/genesis/6-17.htm">Flow</a> <a href="/james/5-18.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/james/3-12.htm">Fountain</a> <a href="/james/3-12.htm">Fresh</a> <a href="/revelation/3-7.htm">Opening</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-30.htm">Outlet</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-18.htm">Pour</a> <a href="/james/3-12.htm">Salt</a> <a href="/james/3-12.htm">Spring</a> <a href="/james/3-12.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/james/3-12.htm">Water</a><div class="vheading2">James 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/3-1.htm">We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/3-5.htm">but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/3-9.htm">but a powerful instrument of much good, and great harm.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/3-13.htm">The truly wise are mild and peaceable, without envy and strife.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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Springs in the ancient Near East were vital sources of life, often determining the location of settlements. A spring that produced both fresh and salt water would be considered unreliable and unusable, highlighting the importance of consistency and purity.<p><b>Can both fresh water</b><br>Fresh water symbolizes purity, life, and spiritual truth. In biblical symbolism, fresh water often represents the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, as seen in <a href="/john/4-14.htm">John 4:14</a>, where Jesus speaks of the "living water" that leads to eternal life. The imagery of fresh water is used to convey the idea of spiritual nourishment and cleansing.<p><b>and salt water</b><br>Salt water, in contrast, represents bitterness, corruption, and death. In the ancient world, salt was a valuable commodity but also a symbol of desolation, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (<a href="/genesis/19-26.htm">Genesis 19:26</a>). Salt water is undrinkable and harmful to crops, symbolizing the destructive power of sinful speech and actions.<p><b>flow from the same spring?</b><br>The impossibility of a spring producing both fresh and salt water underscores the call for integrity and consistency in the life of a believer. This imagery is consistent with Jesus' teaching in <a href="/matthew/7-16.htm">Matthew 7:16-20</a>, where He speaks of recognizing a tree by its fruit. Just as a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, a true believer should not produce both blessings and curses. This passage challenges believers to examine their hearts and align their speech with their faith, reflecting the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/james.htm">James</a></b><br>The author of the epistle, traditionally identified as James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Jerusalem church. He writes with authority and pastoral concern for the moral and spiritual conduct of believers.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_early_church.htm">The Early Church</a></b><br>The audience of the letter, consisting of Jewish Christians scattered among the nations. They faced trials and needed guidance on living out their faith authentically.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/springs.htm">Springs</a></b><br>A natural source of water, used metaphorically by James to illustrate the inconsistency of speech that can both bless and curse.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/consistency_in_speech.htm">Consistency in Speech</a></b><br>Just as a spring cannot produce both fresh and salt water, our speech should consistently reflect our Christian values. We must strive for integrity in our words, ensuring they align with our faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_the_tongue.htm">The Power of the Tongue</a></b><br>Our words have the power to build up or tear down. As believers, we are called to use our speech to edify others and glorify God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/self-examination.htm">Self-Examination</a></b><br>Regularly assess the nature of your speech. Are your words life-giving and reflective of your relationship with Christ, or do they reveal a divided heart?<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_the_heart.htm">Guarding the Heart</a></b><br>Since our words flow from the heart, we must guard our hearts diligently, filling them with God's truth and love to ensure our speech is pure.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/witness_to_the_world.htm">Witness to the World</a></b><br>Our consistent, Christ-like speech serves as a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_james_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from James 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_the_tongue_be_untamable_yet_controlled.htm">In James 3:8, the tongue is called “untamable,” conflicting with other teachings on self-control (e.g., Galatians 5:23); how can both be true? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_james_3_11-12_metaphorically_valid.htm">James 3:11-12 uses water and plant analogies to illustrate consistent outcomes; is this scientifically or metaphorically sound regarding moral behavior?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_are_teachers_judged_more_strictly.htm">In James 3:1, why single out teachers for stricter judgment, seemingly contradicting passages like Romans 2:11 that imply all are judged equally?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_job_3's_despair_contradict_james_5_11.htm">Does the despair expressed in Job 3 contradict later biblical accounts (e.g., James 5:11) that describe Job as patient and steadfast?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/james/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(11) <span class= "bld">Doth a</span> (or, <span class= "ital">the</span>) <span class= "bld">fountain send forth</span> (literally, <span class= "ital">spurt</span>) <span class= "bld">at the same place</span> (or, <span class= "ital">hole, </span>see margin) <span class= "bld">sweet water and bitter</span> (<span class= "ital">i.e., fresh water and salt</span>)<span class= "ital">?</span>--A vivid picture, probably, of the mineral springs abounding in the Jordan valley, near the Dead Sea; with which might be contrasted the clear and sparkling rivulets of the north, fed by the snows of Lebanon. Nature had no confusion in her plans; and thus to pour out curse and blessing from the same lips were unnatural indeed. Or, again--<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/james/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 11, 12.</span> <span class="accented">- Illustrations</span> showing the absurdity of the conduct reprobated. From one principle opposite things cannot be produced. Nothing can bring forth that which is not corresponding to its nature. <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> The same fountain cannot give both sweet and bitter water. <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> A fig tree cannot yield olives, nor a vine figs. <p><span class="note_emph">(3)</span> Salt water cannot yield sweet. . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/james/3-11.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">[Can]</span><br /><span class="grk">μήτι</span> <span class="translit">(mēti)</span><br /><span class="parse">IntPrtcl<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3385.htm">Strong's 3385: </a> </span><span class="str2">If not, unless, whether at all. From me and the neuter of tis; whether at all.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[both] fresh [water]</span><br /><span class="grk">γλυκὺ</span> <span class="translit">(glyky)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1099.htm">Strong's 1099: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sweet. Of uncertain affinity; sweet.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">bitter [water]</span><br /><span class="grk">πικρόν</span> <span class="translit">(pikron)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4089.htm">Strong's 4089: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bitter, acrid, malignant. Perhaps from pegnumi; sharp, i.e. Acrid.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">flow</span><br /><span class="grk">βρύει</span> <span class="translit">(bryei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1032.htm">Strong's 1032: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cause to gush forth, send forth. A primary verb; to swell out, i.e. to gush.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐκ</span> <span class="translit">(ek)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1537.htm">Strong's 1537: </a> </span><span class="str2">From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">τῆς</span> <span class="translit">(tēs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Genitive Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">same</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτῆς</span> <span class="translit">(autēs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">spring?</span><br /><span class="grk">πηγὴ</span> <span class="translit">(pēgē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4077.htm">Strong's 4077: </a> </span><span class="str2">A fountain, spring, well, issue, flow. Probably from pegnumi; a fount, i.e. Source or supply.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/james/3-11.htm">James 3:11 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/james/3-11.htm">NT Letters: James 3:11 Does a spring send out (Ja Jas. Jam) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/james/3-10.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="James 3:10"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="James 3:10" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/james/3-12.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="James 3:12"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="James 3:12" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>